+39 338 190 24 36 press@famvin.org

PRESS RELEASE – Three Days with Mary: in October in Italy the national pilgrimage of the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal will begin anew.

da | Set 21, 2022 | Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Pilgrimage, Saint Catherine Labouré

The national pilgrimage of the statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal that began on November 11, 2020 (Vatican City) with the blessing of Pope Francis will begin anew. This initiative began as a manner to commemorate the 190thanniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to Saint Catherine Laboure and is sponsored by the Missionaries of the Congregation of the Mission in Italy with the collaboration of the wider Vincentian Family.

In each center that is visited, there will be “three days with Mary” because, as Father Vaslerio Di Trapani, superior of the provincial house of the Congregation of the Mission and of the Leonine College in Rome, stated:  during this pastoral year the Lord has made us see the ever more-urgent need to reach out to others, to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God so that people might discover Mary as a woman who lived her life with integrity, as a woman who was happy and fully realized as a human person. Therefore, we are attempting to reach out to the ecclesial communities that desire to embrace the proposal of the Vincentian Missionaries in order to encourage and animate the parish community providing them with catechetical instruction, prayer, the sacrament of Reconciliation, visits to vulnerable and infirm individuals, meetings with children and adolescents. 

Despite the many difficulties (including logistical problems that resulted from COVID-19), more than 200 parishes have already been visited and received the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. People have given witness to the fact that this pilgrimage has been a time of spiritual grace and growth.

The pilgrimage will resume but take on a broader perspective: looking toward November 27, 2030 when we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the encounter between the Blessed Mother and Saint Catherine Laboure. Catherine was a young Daughter of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul to whom the Blessed Mother appeared. Mary spoke to Catherine during a lengthy encounter and stated: These are very sad times. Misfortunes afflict France. The entire world will be engulfed in sadness. But if people come to the foot of this altar, there graces will be spread over all those who ask for them with confidence and fervor … I have always been watchful over you. Again, on November 27, 1839, Catherine saw the Blessed Mother. This time the Virgin held in her hand a globe (representing all of humankind). Catherine was awed by the Virgin’s beauty and was entrusted with a mission to have a medal made and was promised: everyone who wears it around their neck will receive great graces. 

Father Valerio explains: During this time of pilgrimage moving toward 2030, each year we will focus on a theme that will be developed during the three days. This year, remembering the “Light” of Saint Louise de Marillac, we want to highlight to protagonism of the Holy Spirit. Four hundred years ago, on June 4, 1623, Saint Louise was enlightened by the Holy Spirit who helped her dispel all her doubts. At that time, Louise came to the understanding that she would pronounce vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in a small community dedicated to the service of the poor and would be involved in a continual movement of coming and going. The Holy Spirit was a protagonist in the vocational choice of Louise de Marillac just as he was a protagonist in the vocational choice of the Blessed Mother.

Father Valerio continued: At the conclusion of each stop on the pilgrimage, we will provide the parishioners with some reflection pamphlets on the theme of the year. Thus, the acceptance of the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal will not be an isolated event, but rather an event that will continue to draw the community together to pray, reflect and share their thoughts on the proposed themes. 

Those interested in promoting this time brief time of pastoral animation with two Vincentian Missionaries and the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal should contact Father Valerio Di Trapani at padrevaleriocm@gmail.com so that this experience of pastoral animation can be organized.

October 2022

  1. Sunday, October 2 – Wednesday, October 5 (afternoon): Ischia, Buon Pastore.
  2. Wednesday, October 5 (afternoon) – Saturday, October 8 (evening): Ischia, Campagnano. 
  3. Sunday, October 9 (morning) – Wednesday, October 12 (afternoon): Ischia, Casamicciola. 
  4. Thursday, October 13 – Sunday, October 16: Vinci (Florence), Apparita – Parish of Saint Pantaleone and Our Lady of Fatima.
  5. Monday, October 24 – Thursday October 27: Meta di Civitella Roveto (L’Aquilla) -Parish of the Blessed Trinity.
  6. Thursday, October 27 – Sunday, October 30: Civitela Roverto (L’Aquilla) – Parish of Saint John the Baptist.

November – December 2022

  • Wednesday, November 30 – Saturday, December 3: Casagiove (Caserta) – St. Michael’s Church.
  • Monday, December 5 – Thursday, December 8: Como – Chiesa del Gesú.

May 2023

  • Wednesday, May 3 – Saturday, May 6: Lauria (Potenza) – Parish of Saint James, Apostle.
  • Wednesday, May 17 – Saturday, May 20: Fondi (Latina) – Cathedral of Saint Peter.

For information and updates

page FB Medaglia Miracolosa pellegrina

Press Office

Elena Grazini 

Vincentian Family 

+39 338 190 24 36

elena@elenagrazini.it

Pilgrimage with Mary – Rome: November 27: Procession from the Leonine to the Parish of San Gioacchino in Prati.

da | Nov 23, 2020 | Apparitions of the Blessed Mother to Saint Catherine Labouré, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

In Rome, we have begun the pilgrimage of the sacred image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, blessed (Wednesday, November 11th) in the Vatican by Pope Francis in the presence of the Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission, Father Tomaẑ Mavriĉ, CM and a small delegation of people. On November 26th, at 6:30pm, Marian prayer will take place at the Leonine. Then, on the morning of November 27, the image will be brought to the studios of Tv2000 where a special program in honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal will take place and will be televised at 9:06-9:45am. On the same day, there will be a celebration of the Eucharist in the Leonine at 5:00pm and this will be transmitted by facebook (@SuperiorGeneralCM) … in light of the reduced number of persons who are able to be physically present in the church because of restrictions imposed by health officials, this transmission will allow everyone to participate in the celebration. At the conclusion of the Eucharist, the image will be brought in procession to the parish of San Gioacchino in Prati.

Since November 20, the image has been in the parish of Tor Sapienza and November 23 the image will be brought to the Leonine, where it will remain until November 27th when it will be brought to the parish of San Gioacchino in Prati. From there the image will be brought to the community of the Daughter of Charity (November 30th) and the following day (December 1st) the image will be brought to the church of Santa Andrea della Fratte and then on December 4th it will be brought to the community of the Daughters of Charity in Regina Mundi. On December 7th the Daughters of Charity in Santa Ágata will take charge of the image until December 10th when it will be brought to the parish of San Gregorio VII and then on December 12th to the parish of Santa Ana in the Vatican. Then the image will be brought to the parish of Santo Dimingo de Guzman on December 14th, the parish of Santa Francesca Cabrini on December 17th, the parish of San Francisco de Asis on December 19th. Then On December 21st, the image will return to the Leonine where it will remain until December 26th when it will be brought to the parish of San Lucas; on December 29th the image will be brought to Regina Pacis and December 30-31 to the community of the Daughters of Charity in Loreto (AN).

The pilgrimage of the image during the month of December will be primarilly in the various parishes of the city of Rome. The image will be brought to parishes thoughout Italy during 2021 and this pilgrimage has been organized to commemorate the 190th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to Catherine Laboure. The various stages of this pilgrimage and information related to this pilgrimage can be found on the facebook page of the Association of the Miraculous Medal: https://www.facebook.com/Medaglia-Miracolosa-pellegrina-105326204721580/

On the evening of July 18-19, 1830, Catherine Laboure, a young Daughter of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul saw the Blessed Mother and had a lengthy encounter with her. The Virgin stated: The times are very evil! Misfortunes afflict France … the entire world will experience misfortunes of all sorts … But come to the foot of this altar, there abundant graces will be spread over all those who ask for them with confidence and fervor … I have always watched over you. Then, on November 27th, 1830, Catherine Laboure saw the Blessed Mother again, holding a globe in her hand (representing humankind). Catherine contemplated her beauty and accepted the mission of having a medal made: the people who carry this medal will receive many graces.

Through this initiative of the pilgrimage of the image of Mary, the members of the Vincentian Family, faithful to the Word of God and inspired by their charism which calls them to serve God in the person of the poor, recall the fact that even today the Blessed Mother is inviting people to come to the foot of the altar.

After 190 years, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal continues to watch over humankind and comes, as a pilgrim, to visit and to the meet with the members of the Christian communities spread throughout Italy. Thus, Mary fulfills the promise of love that is contained in her message: I will be remain with you, trust and do not be discouraged.

Elena Grazini

Press Office

Vincentian Family

+39 338 190 24 36

elena@elenagrazini.it

press@famvin.org +39 338 190 24 36